The assassin bug subfamily Triatominae, or kissing bugs, comprises about 150 valid species (Galvão et al., 2003), many of which are vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi (Chagas, 1909), the causative agent of Chagas disease or American Trypanosomiasis that effects about 12 million people in Middle and South America (Beard et al. 2003). Twelve species of Triatominae in the genera Paratriatoma Berber and Triatoma Laporte occur in the United States (Henry and Froeschner 1988). They live mostly in nests of wood rats in the genus Neotoma Say and Ord, but are attracted to light and therefore human habitations at night. Transmission of Trypanosoma cruzi to pets and humans has been documented in several instances in the United States (Beard et al. 2003, Dorn et al. 2007), including one case of indigenous Chagas disease from California (Schiffler et al. 1984). In addition, bites of Triatominae in the southwestern United States are perceived as a problem due to the hypersensitive reactions of about 7% of humans (Ryckman 1985, Marshall et al. 1986, Klotz et al. 2006). Due to the fact that human settlements are continuously expanding into the natural habitat of these insects, Triatominae have the potential to become a more common health problem in California.

Our studies of Triatominae have also recently begun to focus on gut contents of these kissing bugs. We have developed PCR protocols to determine vertebrate hosts of kissing bugs by sequencing genes found in blood in the guts of these bugs. Additionally, we are working to characterize the gut microbiota of these blood-feeding assassin bugs which are thought to help these insects subsist on the vitamin-poor diet of solely blood. A third project aims on tracing the evolution of selected salivary proteins from predatory assassin bugs to specialized blood-feeding Triatominae. Finally, we are using the >1,600 specimen records of Triatominae from the US and mostly the Western US to model distributions of the 3 prevalent species endemic to California. Bite allergies may be specific to either T. protracta or T. rubida, and exact knowledge of their distributions is critical.